Oregon House Votes To Strengthen Anti-Sex Trafficking Laws
HB 4082 Closes Dangerous Loophole In Statutes Related To ‘Promoting Prostitution’
Representative John Huffman Release,
The Oregon House of Representatives unanimously approved HB 4082, which seeks to strengthen anti-prostitution laws in Oregon and hold sex traffickers more accountable for engaging in criminal transactions. The bill expands the crime of promoting prostitution to include receiving goods or services in connection with a prostitution activity.
“Today, we took a positive step toward combatting prostitution and sexual exploitation in Oregon,” said Representative John Huffman (R-The Dalles), a chief sponsor of the legislation. “This legislation will close a dangerous loophole in our prostitution statutes and lead to more human traffickers being held accountable for the crimes they commit. We must do everything we can to put an end to sexual exploitation in Oregon and protect the most vulnerable members of our communities.”
Under current Oregon law, crimes related to promoting prostitution are limited to exchanges involving money or property. HB 4082 updates Oregon’s prostitution statutes to include receiving or agreeing to receive goods, services or anything of value as punishable under the law.
HB 4082 is a product of the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children Work Group, of which Rep. John Huffman and Rep. Kathleen Taylor (D-Milwaukie) serve as chairs. The legislation was developed with significant input from the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office, law enforcement officials and other stakeholders.
In addition to Representatives Huffman and Taylor, HB 4082 is chief sponsored by Representatives Stark and Gallegos, as well as Senators Knopp and Gelser. A bipartisan group of twenty other lawmakers also signed on as regular sponsors of the bill.
HB 4082 now moves to the Senate for further consideration.
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